The Four Noble Truths
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain the importance of the Four Noble Truths and how they influence Buddhists today.
Key learning points
- One of the most important teachings of the Buddha are the Four Noble Truths, which explain suffering and its end.
- The analogy of a doctor is a common way to understand these teachings and involves observation, cause and cure.
- Ignorance, greed and hatred - known as the three poisons - are explained as the cause of suffering.
- The Four Noble Truths influence Buddhists to act in different ways, including avoiding attachments and cravings.
- The Eighfold Path contains guiding principles which will help Buddhists achieve this.
Keywords
The Four Noble Truths - an important part of the Buddha’s teachings, explaining the truth about existence
The three poisons - causes of dukkha that affect all beings: ignorance, greed, and hate
The Eightfold Path - the Fourth Noble Truth, known as ‘The Middle Way’
Dukkha - a belief that all life includes suffering and unsatisfactoriness
Dhammapada - a source of wisdom and authority that includes some of the most famous teachings of the Buddha
Common misconception
The Buddha's teachings on suffering are negative and pessimistic.
Buddhists would argue that the teachings are realistic. Knowing and understanding the reality of suffering releases them from that suffering.
Teacher tip
Print out a copy of the three poisons for pupils to annotate.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Put the Four Sights in the order that Siddhartha saw them in.
Q2.What was Siddhartha Gautama’s title before he became the Buddha?
Q3.Why did Siddhartha Gautama’s father keep him inside the palace?
Q4.Which of the following best describes the concept of anicca in Buddhism?
Q5.The Three Marks of Existence are dukkha, anicca, and .
Q6.The story of and the Chariot is used to explain the Buddhist concept of anatta.
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Match each of the Noble Truths to its definition.
Q2.The three poisons that cause suffering are ignorance, hatred and .
Q3.What does the third Noble Truth (nirodha) teach?
Q4.Which of the following is the second Noble Truth?
Q5.Which teaching is described as ‘The Middle Way’?
Q6.According to Buddhist beliefs, how can suffering (dukkha) be ended?
To help you plan your 10 religious education lesson on: The Four Noble Truths, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 10 religious education lesson on: The Four Noble Truths, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 4 religious education lessons from the Buddhism: beliefs unit, dive into the full secondary religious education curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.